2012: The Star's Baseball Players of the Year

ROBERT ORTIZ CAMARILLO The midseason transfer from Washington provided quite a boost to the Camarillo lineup. The senior shortstop batted a robust .509 with 29 hits in 57 at-bats. He also notched 15 runs scored and 10 RBIs. Among the season highlights was a 4-for-4 outing against top league rival Oxnard. His exploits earned him Player of the Year honors in the Pacific View League. He was born in Alaska and his parents, Robert and Laura, are graduates of Channel Islands and Hueneme high schools.

Ventura County Star

CODY RAMER SIMI VALLEY The mainstay in the Pioneers program exits as the career leader in most varsity games played and another stellar season as a senior. He racked up a batting average of .390 with 27 runs scored and 17 stolen bases and earned first-team honors on the all-Marmonte League and all-Ventura County teams. He also sported a 1.75 ERA on the mound with three saves. He will play collegiately for the University of Arizona. His favorite hobbies include Twitter, and his favorite team is the Angels. He lists Josh Hamilton as his favorite athlete.

Ventura County Star

HUNTER VIRANT CAMARILLO The sterling left-hander has a tough choice to make, and it's courtesy of his talent. He can play collegiately for UCLA, or sign with the Houston Astros as an 11th-round draft choice. As a senior, he finished 8-2 with 10 complete games, an ERA of 0.94 and 99 strikeouts in 66.2 innings. He also batted .390 with 30 hits, 18 runs scored and 12 RBIs. A scholar-athlete in the classroom, he favors golfing, fishing and shooting pool as top hobbies. He lists Cliff Lee as his favorite athlete.

Ventura County Star

ISAAC HORIGAN BUENA It became the Year of the Pitcher in the county and the Bulldogs' right-hander was a key reason why. His 11-3 record tied for the county lead in wins, while also notching an ERA of 1.33, 13 complete games and 95 strikeouts in 91 innings. Opposing hitters managed just a .143 batting average. The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder is undecided on a college choice. He has earned a 3.1 GPA and considers Reed Nothwang of Ventura his favorite athlete. His favorite singer is Taylor Swift and his top TV show is "Swamp People."

Ventura County Star

OSCAR SANDOVAL OXNARD The senior played a starring role in the Yellowjackets' co-championship in the Pacific View League. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder was 4-2 on the mound, with a 1.41 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. He also batted .302 with a pair of home runs. In the classroom, he earned a 3.0 GPA and will play collegiately for either Cal State Los Angeles or Cal State Northridge. He likes pingpong, basketball and hanging out with friends as hobbies. His favorite team is the Dodgers and his favorite player is Matt Kemp.

Ventura County Star

COREY DODGE BUENA A key cog in the Bulldogs lineup, Dodge was the glue for a team that finished second in the hotly contested Channel League race. The 5-foot-4, 135-pound senior batted .467 with 35 hits, 27 runs scored, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He had a on-base percentage of .576, a slugging percentage of .640 and a fielding percentage of .916. With a GPA of 4.34, he is in the top 10 in his class and will play next for UCLA. His hobbies include kayaking, snowboarding and cooking. His favorite team is the Dodgers and his top TV show is "Big Bang Theory."

Ventura County Star

REED NOTHWANG VENTURA The Cougars ace finished 6-3 with 55.1 innings pitched and 10 earned runs allowed. He also racked up five complete games. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder won the biggest game of the season for his team with a 1-0 victory over Buena in the regular-season finale that locked up a playoff berth. He will play in college for Cal Lutheran University. He merits a 3.6 GPA and lists Isaac Horigan of Buena as his favorit athlete. When he's not playing baseball, it's basketball, pingpong and running with the dog.

Ventura County Star

ALBEE WEISS AGOURA Already among the region's top hitters, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore. He was a key hitter for the Marmonte League champions with team highs in batting average (.368), hits (35), and RBIs (26). He also scored 15 runs and was a defensive anchor from his slot as catcher. It's no surprise that his favorite hobbies include baseball and working out at the gym, as well as running and snowboarding. His favorite teams are the Dodgers and Yankees and his favorite movie is "Major League."

Ventura County Star

JORDAN FARRIS ST. BONAVENTURE A stellar season for the Seraphs featured a Tri-Valley League championship and a berth in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs. Nobody played a bigger role than Farris, who provided the big bat in the middle of the lineup with five home runs, six doubles, 20 RBIs and 28 runs scored. His 12 home runs as a Seraph become the program's career record. The first-team, all-Tri-Valley League selection will next play at the University of Arkansas. He also favors beach volleyball and hanging out with family and friends. His favorite teams are the Dodgers and Clippers.

Ventura County Star

PHILLIP BICKFORD OAKS CHRISTIAN Another of the region's big arms, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior clearly established himself among the Southland's top pitchers. He finished 8-3 with an ERA of 2.42, including 0.45 in the Tri-Valley League. In 72.1 innings, he racked up 107 strikeouts and just 12 walks. He earned honors as the Pitcher of the Year on the all-Tri-Valley League and county coaches Small Schools teams. When he's not pitching, he enjoys fishing, swimming ad enjoying life. The Red Sox are his favorite team and ribs and buffalo wings are his favorite foods.

Ventura County Star

MARK SEYLER AGOURA With Agoura winning its first Marmonte League championship in program history, the versatile senior played an integral role. The 6-foot-3, 160-pounder was the Chargers' offensive sparkplug in compiling a .344 batting average. He was second on the team with 32 hits, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored. On the mound, he was 4-1 with an ERA of 3.90. Seyler will next play for San Diego State. His hobbies, appropriately enough, are baseball, hanging out with friends and school. His favorite athlete is Derek Jeter and his top movie is "The Hunger Games."

Ventura County Star

LUKE EUBANK NEWBURY PARK Might be the architect of the best season ever for a high school pitcher in Ventura County. The 5-foot-11 senior is also the top reason why the Panthers reign as the CIF-SS Division 1 champions. All Eubank did was finish 11-0, including a 2-1 victory over Corona in the CIF-SS title game. He totaled 11 complete games, three no-hitters and a pair of one-hitters. His ERA was 1.01, with 11 earned runs allowed in 76 innings. He also notched 77 strikeouts with junst 12 walks. The CIF-SS Player of the Year has committed to Cal State Los Angeles.